First things first, the reason for the amount of playthroughs is because of the leveling up. You are allowed to carry your stats over to a new game, and early play testing (IGN) has revealed it will take many playthroughs. Also, the item collection achievements has you complete the game with 100% items collected ("Completionist"), the other is 13% or less ("Minimalist").

Finding all the collectables without a map will be long and tedious. Beating the Proving Grounds challenge maps can take a while, depending on your competency with the game. Simply beating the game can take ~6-8 hours. Considering the size of this game, it’ll take a while to span the entire map, which is – roughly – 3 times the size of Super Metroid’s map.

Step 1: First RunPlay the game; simple enough. You can earn between 8-9 achievements (160-180) in your first playthrough, depending if you get all collectibles or not. Difficulty doesn’t affect achievements, so play on Casual. You will be able to get all the combat-related achievements. Achievements you will not unlock are: "Proven Grounds", "Minimalist" and "Serious Complex". I do not recommend you go for the Minimalist achievement on your first playthrough.

Step 2: Proven GroundsOnce the game is completed, go for "Proven Grounds" (think Bionic Commando: Rearmed). Simply put, going for the Proving Grounds at the start is "not advised;" you don't know how the game works yet. You can go straight for this after the initial playthrough, or…

Step 3: MinimalistGo for "Minimalist", the 13% run. Do NOT go out of your way to collect items. Again, difficulty will not affect, so use Casual.

Step 4: Mopping UpGo for "Serious Complex;" this will take you awhile. You can continue your game after beating the final boss; simply click Campaign and Continue. You start off right where you left off before the final boss. Just make sure you go left instead of right. You can start a new game with your existing level, experience and bonuses. Your entire inventory will be reset.

If you didn’t earn all the combat achievements in your first playthrough, go for it again. Play on Hardcore or higher once you've gotten the hang of it, as the higher difficulties net you an XP bonus for the higher difficulties. Also, the "Walkin' on Water" achievement is missable, so be sure to get that before the final boss fight.

Conclusion
This game should not be difficult in reaching a full 200. The only places I can see there being difficult/time consuming will be reaching level 50 and completing all of the Proving Ground challenges.

ACHIEVEMENT GUIDE

.::COMBAT::.

Let’s Get Punchy : 15Melee 5 soldiers

If you’ve been making use of the melee button (), you should get this fairly early on. Get close enough and an icon will pop up in the lower right corner, indicating you can melee.

Bomba Punter : 20Punt 20 Bombas

You'll have to get a Bomba (spider-looking things with bombs attached to the top; you'll encounter them early on) on ground level with you. If they are on the wall, shoot them just a few times and they will fall. Walk/run up to one and press , repeat.

Bombas have a short window between dying and exploding. They will "die" once you shoot them enough, as they will collapse to the ground and white sparks will emanate from their bodies. You will have a few short moments before they explode. One type (the ones with yellowish-green bombs attached to their heads) will explode as soon as they die, do don't worry too much about missing an opportunity.

My Head A-splode : 20Get 50 headshots

Use the to aim for enemy heads and fire with the . Better done with guns that are not the Inertial Element.Make ‘Em Scream : 20Get 100 soldiers to scream

To get an enemy to scream, you must knock them off a high area. In other words, however you kill your enemy, make sure they fall a good ways down to make them scream. It looks as if they need to fall roughly 15-20 feet in order for them to scream. Below are a few known methods to get enemies to fall from a high place:

Explosion: Use explosive barrels or grenades to knock your enemies sky high, or off of a platform.

Melee: The stronger your melee attack, the better chance you have of knocking your enemies further away from you, and hopefully down a chasm (or a high enough altitude).

Foam: Use the Foam Gun and aim close to the enemy's feet. Lob a grenade into the foam for a "Sticky Grenade." With the explosion at their feet, it will launch them into the air. With the added height, the falling distance will cause them to scream (thanks Achpoques!).

Look Out! : 5Kill a soldier with a Bomba

You can get this as you’re working towards your Bomba Punter achievement. Simply kick one into an enemy.

The earliest you can score this is in the beginning on your way to the helipad. After swimming for your first time, enter the door immediately to your right. Walk up, press and the Bomba will go flying into the wall just behind the enemy. Give it a second for the blast to kill the enemy.

.::STORY::.

To Kill a Blackbird : 15Destroy the helicopter attacking the vice president

Story related; cannot miss. Happens at the very beginning of the game in the Prologue. Using the secondary function on your rifle () makes this a breeze.

Hero : 50Complete the game on any difficulty setting

Unless you give up, which I hope you don’t, you’ll get this once you beat the game. Use the easiest difficulty setting, just in case. It will unlock once the game finishes tallying your overall score.

Walkin’ on Water: 5Make it from one end of the lake to the other in hyperspeed

Once you obtain the Friction Dampener, return to the first body of water you had to swim across with the lone house in the middle in the upper right section of map. Start from the inside of the cave (get rid of the lone enemy and Bomba), start from the left and run.

You'll hit hyperspeed once you hit the dock. Once you reach the house, jump up to continue running across the roof. Land on the other side of the house (don't jump off), it'll unlock once you reach the other side. Don't let off the button until you hear it unlock.

This must be done before the game points you to the lake for the final boss fight, or you will have to start all over again.

Completionist : 20Complete the game with 100% of the items

Possibly the second most tedious achievement, you need to beat the game with all 127 items collected. Collected items are displayed as a small dot, and those you have not come up as a '?'. Use the Flashlight info screen to determine what weapon you will need to get past multiple blockades.

You will obtain the complete schematic for entire base fairly late in the game, you will start to find pieces to the armored suit. The game will eventually point you towards the lake, which is the end of the game! You may continue the game once you've beaten it, just reload your previous save and you end up right before the end. Turn around and start hunting.

Here is a link to a map that uses Joystiq's map as a basis. Click on the item you're missing and it'll link you to a YouTube video on how to get it. Much more effective than just staring at a map.

TIP: You can check the progress of your achievements (ala Orange Box) via the Achievements section of the pause menu.Minimalist : 10Complete the game with less than 13% of items

You need to beat the game with less than or equal to 13% of items, or less than 17 items (13% of 127 is 16.51, to be exact). There will be times where the game forces you into collecting an upgrade, so just snag it. Do not go out of your way to obtain an item.
Check out Phillosoraptor's Minimalist Walkthrough Thread, or for those who just want a list, here's one provided by our own Renesis:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renesis

Just finished Minimalist at 11%. Here are all the items I got by the end of the game.

EQUIPMENT (5)

Climbing Gear

CLD Thrust Pack

Omega Armor XOS-7

SCHCA Mask

Friction Dampener

WEAPONS (5)

Flashlight

WSAR60 Coil Rifle

Grenade

Missile

Foam

PICKUPS (4)

Health Upgrades 0/8

Armor Upgrades 0/8

Grenade Packs 1/30

Foam Packs 1/20

Missile Packs 1/20

Gold Bars 1/12

Passkeys 0/12

Proven Grounds : 10Complete the three challenge packs in the Proving Grounds

The Proving Grounds are available at the start of the game. Familiarize yourself with the game before tackling these. They are challenging, not impossible, but, most importantly, incredibly doable. This could be the most difficult achievement in the game, if your competency with the game is lacking.

Serious Complex : 10Level up to experience level 50

The most time consuming achievement in the game, you just need to keep leveling up. You can continue your game even after the final boss to keep leveling up. Select [Campaign] > [New]; it will ask to delete your data, select [OK]. Your level, experience and bonuses carry over, but nothing from your Inventory. Remember:

"Keep your level and bonuses, lose your inventory."

TIPS:

You earn multipliers for melee kills, head shots, and power moves, which are all part of a "Skill Kills" system. The game has a breakdown of this system in the pause menu.

Go for the 12 Gold Bars before starting a new game. You will unlock a new, secret area, right next to where you got your handgun. Here, you are given access to the golden versions of all the weapons available in the game (including the Intertial Element), which enable double XP throughout your entire Shadow Complex career. No matter how many times you select "New Game," you will always have access to these Golden Guns.

Go for a higher difficulty once you've gotten the hang of the game, as you will be automatically awarded an XP bonus just for playing on Hardcore or higher (thanks MASS DOMINATION).

Thanks for the reinforcement, guys. I have just one more thing to work on - to make sure a method for an achievement works - then I'll have it posted. I know it's been an hour, but rest assured, it's coming.

No matter what Packokorn 77 says, he has less than 100% achievements in RE5 and Tomb Raider: Legends. He doesnt have all the achievements, it should affect his completion percentage as he hasnt complete the entire game, and should defo be added to his "Locked Achievements." He doesn't like paying for more content as he thinks everything should be given to him free.

EDIT: Sorry Pacokorn, when I posted there was no guide here just random stuff, so I assumed you were one of those jerks that post fake guides to annoy people. Clearly I was wrong.

I have been a bad person and Im going to my room to think aobut what I've done ....

Last edited by The Dauntless; 08-20-2009 at 05:46 PM.
Reason: I was a bad man :(

Nice guide so far bro, looking forward to getting home so I can continue my playthrough.
At Dauntless: who cares if he doesn't like paying for dlc, that's his choice. His opinion of 100% completed games counts if you don't download the dlc has no effect on you, so take it somewhere else man.

No matter what Packokorn 77 says, he has less than 100% achievements in RE5 and Tomb Raider: Legends. He doesnt have all the achievements, it should affect his completion percentage as he hasnt complete the entire game, and should defo be added to his "Locked Achievements." He doesn't like paying for more content as he thinks everything should be given to him free.

As I said before I revised the post with the guide itself, I hit "Post" instead of "Preview" by accident, as I was still working on the guide itself.

Now, as for the bashing of my signature, do you really need to do that? Is that what you were doing as you were passing the time anxiously awaiting my guide? I'm not the only person who has something similar in their sig in regards to the issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyRock84

Don't knock it, do one yourself if you don't like it.

Also, I perfectly agree with Packokorn on his sig.

I got 1000/1000 in TRL and i'll be damned before I buy TRA again just to sort my score.

I don't have RE5 but from what I gather, the 'Versus' mode was about as popular as a hole in the head coming so soon after the games release.

Apologies for going off-topic, delete as required.

Thanks Johnny. And as it may be off topic, it was just as off topic as Dauntless' post.

I don't want my first achievement guide thread to turn into a war. Let's drop the subject.

I've gotten nearly all my scream kills from hitting enemies with the foam gun and sticking a grenade to them as low as possible on the foam so they go flying up. Regardless how they land, they normally got enough air time to scream.

The multipliers you see above the XP bar come up for 'Skill Kills'. Headshots and melee kills are the most common ways I see. Just string together some headshots and melees and you can get the 'max' multiplier easily.

it says when picking the difficulties that by playing on hardcore and insane u get a bonus and major bonus of xp earned respectfully. although this is harder it will lower the number of play-throughs quite a bit i think.

__________________
GT: MASS D0MINATI0N111 completed games 82 Retail - 29 Arcade Mass Effect 3 - Liara & Garrus conversation:Liara : Did you really take out three Blue Suns mercs with one bullet? Garrus:Nah of course not... The third guy had a heart attack. Not fair to count him.

I've gotten nearly all my scream kills from hitting enemies with the foam gun and sticking a grenade to them as low as possible on the foam so they go flying up. Regardless how they land, they normally got enough air time to scream.

The multipliers you see above the XP bar come up for 'Skill Kills'. Headshots and melee kills are the most common ways I see. Just string together some headshots and melees and you can get the 'max' multiplier easily.

Nice. I'll be sure to add that info in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MASS DOMINATION

it says when picking the difficulties that by playing on hardcore and insane u get a bonus and major bonus of xp earned respectfully. although this is harder it will lower the number of play-throughs quite a bit i think.

I figured that higher difficulty levels netted more XP (much like the meta-score minigame in Halo 3). Same as above, I'll add it in.

No matter what Packokorn 77 says, he has less than 100% achievements in RE5 and Tomb Raider: Legends. He doesnt have all the achievements, it should affect his completion percentage as he hasnt complete the entire game, and should defo be added to his "Locked Achievements." He doesn't like paying for more content as he thinks everything should be given to him free.

Is it necessary to be a douchebag?

Back on topic, is there a way to knock bombas off the walls and then kick them? Seems everytime I do they blow up almost instantly.

Once you obtain the complete schematic for entire base, you will start to find pieces to the armored suit. The game will eventually point you towards the lake. This is the end of the game! Make sure you've gotten all 100% before heading there.

So are you saying once you beat the game, it auto saves at the end which keeps you from playing any further for that campaign?

I'm at the part with the exploding dome room. I'm assuming that takes place before the lake, because after I did that scene, my next destination was above ground to the right. I didn't save after that dome scene because the dome room wasn't located in a place where I can accidentally go to and I was unsure if I was already at the end. Plus I still had one more piece of armor to get and X amount of items. At least this game doesn't require you to visit 100% of the map because just about every square above ground seems impossible to visit.

So are you saying once you beat the game, it auto saves at the end which keeps you from playing any further for that campaign?

I'm at the part with the exploding dome room. I'm assuming that takes place before the lake, because after I did that scene, my next destination was above ground to the right. I didn't save after that dome scene because the dome room wasn't located in a place where I can accidentally go to and I was unsure if I was already at the end. Plus I still had one more piece of armor to get and X amount of items. At least this game doesn't require you to visit 100% of the map because just about every square above ground seems impossible to visit.

The game will save right before the lake (the explosive '!' mark is the save point). When you beat the game, reload, and you can continue from the lake edge and get the rest of the collectibles.

So, you're saying you only picked up 5 items? That's asides from the weapons you end up getting, such as the M4 and the such, as well as armor that's story related, right?

Yeah sorry, I totally forgot about the (standard) weapons and armor.

I picked up the pistol, MP40, M4 and m60 and the armor and its speed upgrade. However, I only picked up 2 of the 4 armor upgrades in the end. Triple jump and hook shot. Didn't pick up any armor plating upgrades.

Just like Completionist, but the complete opposite. You must collect under 13% of items, or less than 15 items. You read that right, 15 items. Itís unconfirmed whether or not your completion percentage must be less than or equal to 13%. In other words, we donít know yet if youíre completion percentage can read 13% and still get it, despite the description reading ďless than.Ē

Just like Metroid or Castlevania, there will be times where the game forces you into collecting an upgrade. Do not worry about this, just snag it.

As to what items are recommended/required for a game completion is yet to be determined, so keep an eye out for a detailed guide, or even better, a map. I won't be making such a thing for them; I will make a link here to that guide.

Key tip: Do NOT go out of your way to collect an item. If itís not in your way, ignore it. This could easily be the most difficult achievement.

I can confirm that you can indeed have 13% on the dot but be care full thought.(i had 13% all the way to the last Boss and then when i was jumping over a certain area i got the collectable and it still said 13% so i completed Game and it said i had 14% and then i just dashoboard and reloaded it again and i went back to 13%.

Here the Hint on getting 13%

Dont Collect and Health Upgrade, ect. Just get the suit upgrade only and nothing else then when you get to the part where your force to get the Gold Bar just get it and dont worry. Then after that you evenally need to collect 5 suit pieces get the all expect the Helmet and the Gun(dont get these) Just go to the last ! to where it leads you to the last Boss that it.

One good tip for earning XP is to play on Insane whenever you are full on health, and especially when "exploring" (going places for the first time)...xp goes up at a nice clip on insane as you go square to square, and if you hit a snag (a fight a little too hard) simply hit start/ change diff/ normal (or casual...I stick to normal to keep getting SOME xp!). My brother and I played the same amount of time, he is at 50% map, on Normal, at lvl 10, I am at 36% map, mostly Insane, and am lvl 16. Boss fights also get crazy xp on Insane, and if there is a save just prior, only takes a couple of tries.

As for Proving Grounds, I saw it as more of an expanded Tutorial (if you do the tutorial it wraps right into the packs), and teaching you techniques and "tricks" to the game, more than challenge levels you needed to play the game to master. I think the 3rd pack is a little tricky no matter when you do it!

__________________
I would list my completed games, but there just isn't enough room in the window.